ALL CHANGE! The Romanian Film Festival in London, 6th Edition 1 - 4 May 2009 Curzon Mayfair, 38 Curzon Street, London W1J 7TY

The sixth edition of the Romanian Film Festival in London will open very soon, bringing to London the ‘creme de la creme’ of Romanian cinema. This year's title - ‘ALL CHANGE!’ - is a reflection on the rapidly expanding talent that has emerged from the recently hailed , with debut features alongside new work by established directors. The theme of change is equally visible in the films’ stories, many of them served with a good dose of humour.

Special guests from will be attending selected screenings: actor and director Horatiu Malaele, screen legend , veteran director Stere Gulea, charismatic star Andi Vasluianu, and documentary film director Andrei Dascalescu.

All our guests will take part in a special working lunch at the Ratiu Foundation, 18 Fitzhardinge St, London W1, on Saturday 2 May 2009, at 12pm. Book at [email protected]

“We are very happy to present a new edition of our Film Festival”, said Mr Nicolae Ratiu, Chairman of the Ratiu Foundation. “From our first event back in 2003, we brought to London the very best films, and we are proud to have presented the works of directors such as , , Cristian Mungiu, Corneliu Porumboiu, and the late Cristian Nemescu – to name but a few of the best known names. Through its high level of achievement, Romanian cinema is probably our best export, raising the level of awareness on the subject of our country, its people and its culture. We are glad that, through our work, we can bring this cinematographic – or indeed, cultural – phenomenon to the attention of the London audience. We have done this for the past six years, and we plan to continue to do so in the foreseeable future. As with every edition, we have a host of special guests in the Festival this time around, giving you the opportunity to meet and talk at first hand with some of the greatest names in Romanian film. See you all at the Festival!”.

For more information, visit our website at www.romanianculturalcentre.org.uk

PROGRAMME

FRIDAY 1 MAY 2009 6.20pm / Opening Film SILENT WEDDING Dir. Horatiu Malaele / Romania, 2008 Followed by Q&A with director Horatiu Malaele and actor Victor Rebengiuc

SATURDAY 2 MAY 2009 2pm WAVES Dir. Adrian Sitaru / Romania, 2007 (short) followed by HOOKED Dir. Adrian Sitaru / Romania-, 2008 plus Introduction

4pm THE OTHER IRENE Dir. Andrei Gruzsniczki / Romania, 2008 Followed by Q&A with actor Andi Vasluianu

6.15pm CONSTANTIN & ELENA Dir. Andrei Dascalescu / Romania, 2008 (documentary) Followed by Q&A with director Andrei Dascalescu

8.45pm EXCHANGE Dir. Nicolae Margineanu / Romania, 2008 Followed by Q&A with actor Andi Vasluianu

SUNDAY 3 MAY 2009 2pm / Shorts Programme plus Introduction, in the presence of actor Andi Vasluianu • TIGER DANNY Dir. Radu Potcoava / Romania, 2008 • YELLOW SMILEY FACE Dir. Constantin Popescu / Romania, 2008 • ALEXANDRA Dir. / Romania, 2007 • WATER Dir. Constantin Popescu / Romania, 2007

4pm MOROMETII Dir. Stere Gulea / Romania, 1988 Followed by Q&A with actor Victor Rebengiuc and director Stere Gulea

7pm ELEVATOR Dir. George Dorobantu / Romania, 2008 plus Introduction

MONDAY 4 MAY 2009 6.30pm WEEKEND WITH MY MOTHER Dir. Stere Gulea / Romania, 2009 Followed by Q&A with director Stere Gulea and actor Andi Vasluianu

// // // // // // // // For detailed information about the films, pick up a festival brochure from Curzon Cinemas, or visit www.romanianculturalcentre.org.uk

For those of you who use internet social networks, our Festival’s curator, Verena von Stackelberg, created a special Facebook page. Join the group, spread the news, become our friends! Please find the page by searching on Facebook using the term “Romanian Film Festival in London”.

Bookings In person, online at www.curzoncinemas.com, or by phone 0871 7033 989. Tickets: £12.00 / £9.00 Curzon Members.

Organisers The Romanian Film Festival is organised by the Ratiu Foundation / Romanian Cultural Centre in London, the National Centre of Cinematography (CNC) in , and Curzon Cinemas.

Supported by The Prodan Romanian Cultural Foundation. Media partners: Romani-Online.co.uk

Image above from 'Silent Wedding' by Horatiu Malaele. Courtesy of BAC Films. Images below courtesy of National Centre of Cinematography (CNC) in Bucharest.

FILM DETAILS

SILENT WEDDING

Director Horatiu Malaele / Romania 2008 / 87 mins Cast: Meda Andreea Victor, Victor Rebengiuc, Alexandru Potocean A rural wedding celebration is disturbed by Stalin’s death, but the villagers are not easily defeated. A story about resistance during harsh Communist times, told in a fairytale style. See also www.nuntamuta.ro (Romanian only)

WAVES Director Adrian Sitaru / Romania 2007 / 16 mins Cast: Sergiu Costache, Karen Wallet, Adrian Titieni A day on the beach takes a dark turn under the bright sunshine.

HOOKED

Director Adrian Sitaru / Romania/France 2008 / 80 mins Cast: Maria Dinulescu, Ioana Flora, Adrian Titieni / Having set out for a trip in the countryside, secret lovers Mihai and Miha hit prostitute Ana in a roadside accident. Awakening unscathed, Ana decides to accompany them to their picnic…

THE OTHER IRENE

Director Andrei Gruzsniczki / Romania 2008 / 90 mins Cast: Andi Vasluianu, Doru Ana, Gabriel Spahiu Sharing similar grounds with some of the finest European thrillers, The Other Irene is based on a real story, uncovering a political and bureaucratic landscape that is truly eerie to watch.

CONSTANTIN AND ELENA

Director Andrei Dascalescu / Romania 2008 / 103 mins This multi-award winning documentary follows Constantin and Elena who’ve been married for 55 years in a rural village. A reflection on life, dying traditions and a heartfelt story of two very loving, artistic and wise people. See also www.constantinandelena.com

EXCHANGE

Director Nicolae Margineanu / Romania 2008 / 98 mins Cast: Cosmin Selesi, Aliona Munteanu, Andi Vasluianu Having lost his job, Emil’s life soon spirals out of control and he decides to try his luck in Bucharest. Here, bank notes travel from thief to thug and the tragedy caused by this circle of events is the Romanian answer to Robert Bresson’s L’Argent. See also www.filmul-schimbvalutar.ro (Romanian only)

TIGER DANNY Director Radu Potcoava / Romania 2008 / 27 mins Cast: Dorian Boguta, Victoria Cocias Tiger Danny is about to spend a working year in the US but getting out of Bucharest is not that easy.

YELLOW SMILEY FACE Director Constantin Popescu / Romania 2008 / 14 mins Cast: Luminita Gheorghiu, Teodor Corban Two computer illiterate parents in their early 50s have to learn how to use Skype in order to communicate with their son, who studies abroad.

ALEXANDRA Director Radu Jude / Romania 2007 / 25 mins Cast: Alexandra Pascu, Oana Ioachim, Serban Pavlu A single father tries to maintain a relationship with his daughter, despite the hateful ex-wife and her new man.

WATER Director Constantin Popescu / Romania 2007 / 33 mins Cast: Andi Vasluianu, Dragos Bucur During World War II, some soldiers are stuck in a trench in the scorching heat with a pond of ice cool water separating them from their opponents.

MOROMETII

Director Stere Gulea / Romania 1988 / 142 mins Cast: Victor Rebengiuc, Luminita Gheorghiu, Gina Patrichi Morometii, based on a modern classic of by , follows the life of Ilie Moromete, the archetype of the Romanian peasant. Ilie faces constant problems: his sister's nagging, the taxes and the work in the fields, whilst his sons, almost grown-up, are now showing signs of rebellion.

ELEVATOR

Director George Dorobantu / Romania 2008 / 85 mins Cast: Cristi Petrescu, Iulia Verdes Imagine being young, and fancying your schoolmate a little: where would you go if you wanted to be alone for a while? Inside a lift in an abandoned factory, on the outskirts of your hometown, perhaps?

WEEKEND WITH MY MOTHER

Director Stere Gulea / Romania 2009 / 90 mins Cast: Adela Popescu, Medeea Marinescu, Tudor Aaron Istodor Stere Gulea’s latest film is a contemporary drama about migration and addiction, with all the ingredients that made Trainspotting so much of its time. Yet it has the quality of Romanian filmmaking, with depth and contemporary issues at its heart. See also www.weekendcumama.ro (Romanian only)

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